Chapter 7 - The Bloodline
Audrey stared at the steaming mug of poisoned tea, her mind racing desperately for a way out of the locked room.
Julian took another step forward, holding the mug out with an unwavering, terrifying patience.
He told her the tea would help her relax and ensure the baby stayed perfectly safe and healthy.
Audrey knew the liquid in that vial was designed to induce a miscarriage or force her into a deep, compliant sedation.
If she drank it, she would wake up on Friday completely powerless, having signed away her entire life.
“I’m actually feeling a little nauseous,” Audrey said, stepping behind the heavy leather desk chair to put a barrier between them.
Julian’s eyes narrowed into dark, dangerous slits.
He dropped the loving fiance act entirely.
“Drink the tea, Audrey,” Julian commanded, his voice dropping into a harsh, threatening growl.
He lunged forward, grabbing her wrist with a painful, bruising grip to force the mug toward her lips.
Audrey didn’t hesitate or play the victim anymore.
She grabbed the heavy brass paperweight from the desk and smashed it brutally against Julian’s wrist.
Julian screamed in pain, dropping the porcelain mug.
It shattered against the hardwood floor, sending the poisoned tea splashing over his expensive leather shoes.
Audrey shoved the heavy desk chair directly into his legs, sending him stumbling backward into the bookshelves.
She sprinted for the door, threw the deadbolt open, and bolted down the grand hallway.
Julian roared in furious anger behind her, recovering quickly and giving chase like a predatory animal.
Audrey didn't run for the front door, knowing the electronic security gates required a code she didn't have time to punch in.
Instead, she ran straight toward the kitchen and threw open the door leading to the dark, sprawling gardens.
She sprinted across the wet grass in her bare feet, completely ignoring the sharp stones cutting into her skin.
She reached the high stone wall at the edge of the property and climbed the old iron trellis she used to play on as a child.
She dropped down onto the dark sidewalk just as Julian burst out of the kitchen doors behind her.
Audrey flagged down a passing taxi, jumped into the backseat, and screamed at the driver to speed away.
She watched through the rear window as Julian stood furiously at the edge of the property, pulling out his phone.
Audrey borrowed the taxi driver's phone and called her most trusted family lawyer, Mr. Sterling.
She frantically explained the forged will, the poisoned tea, and the entire conspiracy orchestrated by Lenora and Julian.
Mr. Sterling sounded deeply concerned and told her to come straight to his private office downtown.
He promised he had the power to instantly freeze all documents and call the police to arrest Julian immediately.
Audrey finally felt a massive wave of relief wash over her trembling body.
Thirty minutes later, she rushed into the towering glass office building and took the private elevator to the top floor.
She pushed open the heavy glass doors to Mr. Sterling’s luxurious corner office.
“Mr. Sterling, they tried to drug me,” Audrey gasped, stepping into the dimly lit room.
The leather chair behind the massive desk slowly spun around.
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Mr. Sterling wasn't sitting there.
Lenora Voss was sitting in the expensive leather chair, smiling warmly as she held a suppressed handgun pointed directly at Audrey’s chest.
